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Start Garden Planning with Updated ISU Extension Publications

AMES, Iowa – Many Iowans start planning their spring and summer gardens months in advance. For those planners and other garden enthusiasts, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach provides garden publications and resources.

Several of the garden publications recently have been updated and are available for free download from the ISU Extension online store.

“Our cultural practices don’t change much over a short period of time,” said Richard Jauron, extension horticulturist. “However, it’s often necessary to update lists of suggested cultivars as new ones are often introduced and old fade from popularity.”

Among the various updated publications are topics on vegetable gardening, mulches, flowers and more. ISU Extension and Outreach not only provides these useful garden publications, but also supplies Iowans with the garden hotline, Hortline, and the Yard and Garden FAQs website.

“When individuals browse through garden catalogs, they aren’t necessarily seeing plants that will perform well in this state,” Jauron said. “ISU Extension and Outreach’s goal is to provide science-based, unbiased gardening information so that consumers can plant fruits, vegetables and ornamentals and get good results. These publications are a great way to provide basic information to Iowans.”